Chairman Profile

It is rare to find a set of memoirs which describe such a varied and remarkable life as that of David Magang. Here is a man who has been, amongst other things, a scholar, lawyer, politician, government minister and businessman. Here is a man who has travelled widely but who is firmly rooted in the country for which he clearly has such great affection, Botswana – the country which has so impressed the world for its integrity and success. And his story is, to a very great extent, the story of the modern state of Botswana in its early and formative years.

There are great delights in this book, and I think that it should appeal to anybody who is interested in the story of Botswana. But of course it is much more than that: it is the story of a man of talent and vision, who decided to make something of his life and who then did just that. The young schoolboy from Molepolole became the scholar at Moeng College and the student at the University of London. And that student then became the lawyer and the lawyer became the man of public affairs and the statesman. And all of this was achieved by sheer hard work and intellectual ability.

And now, at last with the time to sit down and write this fascinating document, Mr Magang has done a great service to the history and literature of his country. In telling this story, he has recorded the experience of one of Botswana’s best-known and most influential sons. He has also produced a document of humanity and insight. Mr Magang is a wise man, and in this book we see just what that wisdom means. Alexander McCall Smith, 2008